Candidatus Liberibacter

Candidatus Liberibacter is a genus of bacteria in the family Rutaceae. The genus was first described in 2005 and currently includes five species. These bacteria are known to cause several serious plant diseases, including citrus greening disease and zebra chip disease in potatoes.

Taxonomy

The genus Candidatus Liberibacter belongs to the family Rhizobiaceae, in the order Rhizobiales, of the class Alphaproteobacteria. The genus currently includes five recognized species: Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, and Candidatus Liberibacter europaeus.

Pathogenicity

Species of Candidatus Liberibacter are known to be pathogenic to plants. They are transmitted by insect vectors and cause serious diseases in their host plants.

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, and Candidatus Liberibacter africanus are the causative agents of citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). This disease is considered the most serious citrus disease worldwide.

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum is associated with zebra chip disease in potatoes and other solanaceous crops. This disease causes significant yield loss and reduces the quality of the harvested product.

Control

Control of Candidatus Liberibacter diseases is challenging due to the lack of effective treatments and the difficulty in detecting the bacteria. Current control strategies focus on managing the insect vectors and removing infected plants.

See also

• List of bacterial genera
• Plant pathology

References

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